Ties

~Chapter 30

I honestly can't believe we're on chapter 30.

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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~keep going~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As Jafar savoured his meal, a sudden ping from his phone interrupted the pleasant ambience, signalling a new message. He glanced at the screen, a frown crossing his face as he read the sender's name. "Um... J," he called out, hoping to get Jannah's attention. She was blissfully absorbed in her dish and Hamdaan. Jafar raised his voice slightly, “Jannah!”

"Yeah, what’s up?" She lifted her gaze, arching an eyebrow slightly as she studied him with a hint of curiosity in her eyes.

His face broke into a huge grin, "It's mom, she's awake!"

She dropped her utensils, not expecting to hear that from him, "Wait, what? Are you serious? If this is a joke, I'm seriously going to kill you, Jafar."

"Why would I joke about this, j? I'm dead serious."

“Oh my God..... I can't believe this!” Her eyes sparkled with excitement as she spoke, her voice bubbling with enthusiasm. “What are you waiting for? Let’s go!” With a burst of energy, she sprang to her feet, lifting Hamdaan effortlessly into her arms. The sheer joy radiating from her was infectious, filling the room with an electrifying sense of anticipation.

"You should inform Khalil while I settle the bills." In a normal circumstance, she would've argued about why she should tell him, but she was just too happy to, so she nodded and moved to Khalil's table.

"Um, Khalil, hey. I need to go to the hospital like right now. Mom is awake." Jannah couldn't suppress her happiness. Anyone who saw her would know she was over the moon.

"She's awake? Wow.... that's great news. We'll go to the hospital too then." She didn't reply, just beamed at him and led the way out of the restaurant.

As they approached the exit, the familiar figure of Jafar awaited them, a smile lighting up his face. It was then that the four of them, five plus little Hamdaan, stepped out of the warm, bustling restaurant together. Jannah settled into Jafar's car, while Nahara took her place beside Khalil in the other vehicle, just as they had done when they first arrived. The notable change was that this time, Hamdaan perched happily on Jannah's lap, their laughter filling the air as they prepared to make their way home.

"I can’t believe Mom is awake, Jaf!" Jannah exclaimed, her voice trembling with a mix of disbelief and joy. A radiant smile spread across her face, illuminating her features as tears began to glisten in her eyes. "This is the best news I've heard in a very long time. I can’t thank you enough for everything you've done, Jafar." She felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude, unsure how she could ever express her appreciation. Without him, she couldn't imagine how she would have navigated this difficult time.